A Brighton charity has been fined hundreds of pounds after one of its disabled volunteers used the wrong bin bag by mistake.
The Wood Store in Eastern Road has an arrangement with Brghton and Hove City Council to use communal bins for commercial waste, as long as they’re put into special bin bags.
But after two volunteers – one learning disabled, the other new – were seen putting waste in black bin bags into the bin, it was fined £300.
Brighton and Hove Wood Recycling Project, which runs the store, appealed to the council, explaining that the volunteers had made a simple error.
But the £300 fine is being upheld.
The charity’s chief executive, Green councillor Pete West, said: “I’m very conscious of the need for the council to properly manage use of the communal bins and appreciate that technically we have committed an offence, but this was an honest mistake made by a volunteer with learning disabilities who misunderstood what to do.
“We run on a shoestring and are crowdfunding to save the organisation and really can’t afford this insensitive fine, which will only serve to reduce the support we can give to disadvantaged people.”
Hard pressed local reuse charity, Brighton & Hove Wood Recycling Project (aka The Wood Store), has been fined for mistaken use of communal bin by a disabled volunteer.
Councillor Tim Rowkins, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Businesses must dispose of their commercial waste legally and it is the responsibility of the business to make sure all staff have received suitable training and guidance on how to do so.
“Disposing of commercial waste by illegally using bins meant for residential waste limits the space available for residents to responsibly dispose of their household rubbish, which can lead to further issues.
“When a fixed penalty notice is issued, businesses are able to appeal and provide additional information to us, which is then reviewed under the council’s Fixed Penalty Notice Challenge process. In this instance, the decision was to uphold the fine.”
Shame on the council. A clear mistake.
Maybe put effort into flourishing businesses (that can easily afford proper waste disposal, but refuse to) that use regular waste bins to dispose of their shops rubbish and not charities with volunteers with varying abilities.
I wonder if someone in the council have ever made a genuine mistake…….answer on a postcard
I almost wrote a list.
A post card would not big big enough. lol.
What an absolute disgrace I’d like to know how many councilers have made same mistake easy money take from them that need help and can’t afford it I’m spitting feathers here what planet are they on how can they even think they are in the right a mistake was made answer is in the question please show sum common sense and humanity let it go I’m sure I can get a lot of people to pay for they if we have to another episode of nothing line with working people and people in need RobinnHood syndrome 😡😡😡
This isn’t the work of councillors, to be fair. Discretion absolutely should have been done on this occasion and squashed this fine. It’s in no-one’s interest to fine The Wood Store for this one-off mistake by a neuro diverse person.
This is why our local council should not be given any further powers to fine or sanction people and businesses. There is a clear conflict of interest which they will not hesitate to abuse.
Just burn your rubbish in the garden! Who needs the council anyway?
I think we will see more of this. Councils are going to regard the incorrect use of rubbish bins as a new revenue source, much like motorists.
Councils do need to act with the best interests of the people that they are elected to serve rather than regard themselves as part of the state apparatus put in place to control behaviour of the people and how they think.
No surprise there. You get what you vote for. And Brighton & Hove voted for these greedy, incompetent clowns, with their permanently grinning ringmaster (ringmistress). Clearly charities are at the bottom of their concerns when it comes to local business.
Could you explain please?
I do not understand.
Don’t fine charities like this. Wood Store do an excellent job of delivering projects that the EDB team cannot deliver due to their workloads.
It’s the same rubbish going to the same place…… The fact it’s in a PLASTIC BAG in the first place is an issue!
The council couldn’t careless that this is a charity. They want money and if that means taking it from vulnerable people so be it. They are disgusting in every way.
Enforcement Officers need fines to pay their salaries
At the risk of stealing your usual sound advice Darek, they should definitely speak to the Ward Councillor about this one, right?
My first thoughts on this when I read the headline was one of disgust. A simple warning about correct bags should have been sufficient. Then I read on and discovered who the charity’s chief executive was, one Green councillor Pete West.
Irrelevant?
Leave you to work out why it is relevant and also amusing.
This is so sad and smacks of B&H council being so poor, they need to carry out this fine. I suggest that the 3 MPs get together to asks for a pardon from the justice minister. People with learning difficulties helping a charity being penalised! That is low hanging fruit. Let’s impose fines for when a council officer gets something wrong!